Semi-truck overturns on Southern California freeway

FONTANA, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - A sticky situation caused major traffic problems in Southern California on Monday after a semi-truck overturned and spilled its cargo across a busy freeway.

The crash happened late Monday morning on the westbound side of Interstate 10, near Citrus Avenue, in Fontana.

Authorities say a semi-truck overturned around 11:20 a.m., spilling a large load of syrup across all lanes of the freeway.

By late afternoon, the truck have been removed, but the thick liquid continued to cover parts of the roadway.

The spill forced officials to shut down all westbound lanes, creating a traffic backup stretching more than five miles.

Crews with the California Department of Transportation spent hours spreading sand and preparing to wash down the roadway as they worked to clear the sticky mess and reopen the freeway.